BMD-4M and BTR-MD Rakushka:

http://gurkhan.blogspot.ru/2013/12/blog-post_2.html

BMD production.

http://warfiles.ru/show-43966-vdv-poluchili-boevye-mashiny-desanta-bmd-4m-dlya-voyskovyh-ispytaniy.html

VDV received new BMD-4Ms for trials.

Some news finally.
This year the Government Testing of the BMD-4M will be finished.
They are happy with the vehicle, only minor complaints. The 106th Airborne Division will be re-armed first.
KAMAZ is working on wheeled vehicles ordered by the VDV as well.

Do VDV units plan to use slat armor or APS? Is a specific APS system yet chosen for BMD-4M?

mutantsushi wrote:Do VDV units plan to use slat armor or APS?  Is a specific APS system yet chosen for BMD-4M?

APS is necessary- slat armor is not ideal since its pretty heavy and only really works against RPGs- plus it limits mobiliity

They will probably use both slat armour and APS... APS is effective against a wider range of threats but slat armour can also disrupt full calibre armour piercing rounds and also in the field offers something to tie natural vegetation to on the vehicle.

Yeah...
FYI, by slat armor I was really meaning the broader category of offset defence vs. RPGs, etc,
which would include lighter weight solutions like advanced fabrics as Qinetiq does (and I'm sure Russia could).
It seems more reliable than APS only, and gives one more line of defence vs. saturation attacks.
Do you feel that "Afghani" APS would be the choice for BMD-4M, or would lower end systems suffice?

It seems like the VDV air-mobile units (as opposed to airbone)
is where Kurganets will eventually be adopted by VDV, especially since the shorter deployment range
makes it more likely they will be interacting with regular army units using those same platforms...

VDV is supposed to receive Mi-26 correct?
I think Mi-46 is going forward with Chinese support, interesting to see how it impacts VDV air mobile...

It seems more reliable than APS only, and gives one more line of defence vs. saturation attacks.
Do you feel that "Afghani" APS would be the choice for BMD-4M, or would lower end systems suffice?

From the information I have seen there is only "Afghanistan" and "Standard" where Afghanistan is for heavy armoured vehicles (ie armata), while Standard can be used on lighter vehicles.

It seems like the VDV air-mobile units (as opposed to airbone)
is where Kurganets will eventually be adopted by VDV, especially since the shorter deployment range
makes it more likely they will be interacting with regular army units using those same platforms...

Would love to see the development of more powerful helicopters allowing heavier vehicles... or perhaps even the introduction of gliders to land heavier vehicles... even airships are a possiblity with modern materials and technologies.

If they are going for modular designs then air dropping Kurganets with its base armour and then adding the heavy armour later when useful could also be an option too.

VDV is supposed to receive Mi-26 correct?
I think Mi-46 is going forward with Chinese support, interesting to see how it impacts VDV air mobile...

I suspect An-70 is out of the question now, which will be good news for Mil.

I was not a fan of the two engine tilt rotor design as it looks totally unbalanced, but a quad rotor actually appeals to me though it would be difficult to implement properly/effectively.

Remember that fire, on that BMD-4M after the Moscow Parade?

Just found out the cause! Nothing to do with engine, nothing to do with the crew.
MOD modified the engine (to stop it from having a normal exhaust smoke when crossing the square) that caused some cracking in some piping, leaked fuel (of a special kind for the parade) that caused it to be ignited and burn.

Case solved, and does not condemn the vehicle at all.

TR1 wrote:Remember that fire, on that BMD-4M after the Moscow Parade?

Just found out the cause! Nothing to do with engine, nothing to do with the crew.
MOD modified the engine (to stop it from having a normal exhaust smoke when crossing the square) that caused some cracking in some piping, leaked fuel (of a special kind for the parade) that caused it to be ignited and burn.

Case solved, and does not condemn the vehicle at all.

...Ahhh yes, leave it to govt. officials to create a problem and then be reluctant to admit fault. Thankfully it wasn't a design flaw, now the real question remains whats the future for BMD-4 procurement? With the introduction of new mechanized army platforms coming in a few years, it should be noted that the MOD should have a back up plan if the new platforms turn out to be too expensive initially. I say they create a BMD-4 version (and one for the BMP-3) where add-on armor can be air-dropped separately a few hundred meters away from the IFV or towed with a trailer. The add-on armor should be designed to be easy and simple to apply to an IFV, like being able to attach the add-on armor by driving in forwards or backwards in to the armor with hooks on the interior of the add-on armor and hooks on the exterior of the IFV, perhaps even adding a conveyor belt system and additional anchoring systems to insure that the add-on armor is applied properly. Who knows, may'be a system like that can applied to T-72's and T-90's?

Also with that being said I'm well aware the VDV wants IFV's that are light and mobile, amphibious as well as air-droppable, if the add-on armor can be designed right without any major design sacrifices or consequences then the MOD would be wise to keep their options open.

TR1 wrote:Remember that fire, on that BMD-4M after the Moscow Parade?

Just found out the cause! Nothing to do with engine, nothing to do with the crew.
MOD modified the engine (to stop it from having a normal exhaust smoke when crossing the square) that caused some cracking in some piping, leaked fuel (of a special kind for the parade) that caused it to be ignited and burn.

Case solved, and does not condemn the vehicle at all.

Just for the record, it wasn't a BMD-4M, it was a standard BMD-4 (i.e. BMD-3 chassis upgraded with a Bakcha-U module, not the all new BMD-4M chassis, unified with a lot of BMP-3 components). If the BMD-4M existed back then, it was only as a single prototype.

http://www.vestnik-rm.ru/news-4-8316.htm

They are working not just on a new Sprut-M, but a new 120mm self propelled mortar...all unified with the BMD-4M chassis.

8 BMD-4M delivered in Tula

Click

New BMD-4M are in Tula for test service

Suddenly:

http://vz.ru/news/2014/7/31/698204.html

Shamanov says 64 BMD-4M and 40 Rakushka will be delivered next year to two units.

Not sure what to think.

Russian Airborne Troops will receive more than 1,500 new airborne combat vehicles

In the current economic condition its hard to see if Russia would be able to fund 23 Trillion Roubles for SAP 2020 and hence the promise of have x number of vehical by some General is loose talk.

BTW do the Russian Airborne Troop like the BMD-4M , I remember they were complaining about it.

Austin wrote:In the current economic condition its hard to see if Russia would be able to fund 23 Trillion Roubles for SAP 2020 and hence the promise of have x number of vehical by some General is loose talk.

BTW do the Russian Airborne Troop like the BMD-4M , I remember they were complaining about it.

No, they have wanted it for years.

It is Genshtab and Serdykov that had a problem with it. If not for them BMD-4M would be in service by now.

Russian airborne troops ordered 64 new BMD-4M

That is always nice to hear!  

Nice as this is extremely potent weapon

BMD-4M "Bakhcha" completed military tests

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe09BYDmtZs

Nice footage of Rakushka testing- check out the small profile RWS on top.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RuA_tlv3vk

And BMD-4M testing. Shitty music warning.

Can anyone please remind me the difference(s) between the Bakhcha turret/module used on the BMD-4M and the older turret used on BMD-4 and BMP-3?

Thanks in advance.